In biblical times, a banner was a standard or ensign used for various purposes, often serving as a rallying point or symbol of identity and allegiance. The concept of a banner is rich with symbolic meaning throughout the Scriptures, representing God's protection, guidance, and the identity of His people.

Old Testament Usage

The Hebrew word for banner is "נֵס" (nes), which appears in several key passages. In the wilderness, the tribes of Israel camped under their respective banners, as described in Numbers 2:2: "The Israelites are to camp around the Tent of Meeting at a distance from it, each man under his standard, with the banners of his family." These banners served as a means of organization and identity for the tribes during their journey to the Promised Land.

In Exodus 17:15, after the Israelites' victory over the Amalekites, Moses built an altar and named it "The LORD Is My Banner" (Yahweh Nissi). This declaration signified that the Lord Himself was the source of their victory and protection. The banner here symbolizes divine intervention and the assurance of God's presence in battle.

Prophetic and Poetic Imagery

Banners also appear in the poetic and prophetic literature of the Old Testament. In the Song of Solomon 2:4, the beloved says, "He has brought me to the banquet hall, and his banner over me is love." This imagery conveys a sense of belonging and the protective, loving nature of the relationship between God and His people.

Isaiah frequently uses the imagery of a banner to describe God's call to the nations and His gathering of His people. In Isaiah 11:10, it is prophesied, "In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious." Here, the banner represents the Messiah, who will draw all nations to Himself.

New Testament Reflections

While the New Testament does not explicitly mention banners, the concept is reflected in the identity and mission of the Church. Believers are called to be a visible representation of Christ on earth, much like a banner that signals allegiance and identity. In John 12:32, Jesus says, "And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself." This lifting up can be seen as a metaphorical banner, drawing people to the salvation offered through Christ's sacrifice.

Symbolism and Application

In Christian tradition, banners have been used in worship and processions, symbolizing the victory of Christ and the unity of believers. They serve as reminders of God's promises and the call to live under His authority and protection. The banner, as a symbol, encourages believers to rally under the truth of the Gospel and to stand firm in their faith amidst spiritual battles.

Throughout Scripture, the banner is a powerful symbol of God's presence, protection, and the identity of His people. It calls believers to remember their allegiance to God and to live as His representatives in the world.Banner

[See ENSIGN]

(1.) The flag or banner of the larger kind, serving for three tribes marching together. These standards, of which there were four, were worked with embroidery and beautifully ornamented (Numbers 1:52; 2:2, 3, 10, 18, 25; Cant. 2:4; 6:4, 10).

(2.) The flag borne by each separate tribe, of a smaller form. Probably it bore on it the name of the tribe to which it belonged, or some distinguishing device (Numbers 2:2, 34).

(3.) A lofty signal-flag, not carried about, but stationary. It was usually erected on a mountain or other lofty place. As soon as it was seen the war-trumpets were blown (Psalm 60:4; Isaiah 5:26; 11:12; 13:2; 18:3; 30:17; Jeremiah 4:6 21; Ezek. 27:7).

(4.) A "sign of fire" (Jeremiah 6:1) was sometimes used as a signal.

The banners and ensigns of the Roman army had idolatrous images upon them, and hence they are called the "abomination of desolation" (q.v.). The principal Roman standard, however, was an eagle. (See Matthew 24:28; Luke 17:37, where the Jewish nation is compared to a dead body, which the eagles gather together to devour.)

God's setting up or giving a banner (Psalm 20:5; 60:4; Cant. 2:4) imports his presence and protection and aid extended to his people.

1. (n.) A kind of flag attached to a spear or pike by a crosspiece, and used by a chief as his standard in battle.

2. (n.) A large piece of silk or other cloth, with a device or motto, extended on a crosspiece, and borne in a procession, or suspended in some conspicuous place.

3. (n.) Any flag or standard; as, the star-spangled banner.

BANNER

ban'-er (ENSIGN, STANDARDS): The English word "banner" is from banderia, Low Latin, meaning a banner (compare bandum, Latin, which meant first a "band," an organized military troop, and then a "flag"). It has come to mean a flag, or standard, carried at the head of a military band or body, to indicate the line of march, or the rallying point, and it is now applied, in its more extended significance, to royal, national, or ecclesiastical "banners" also. We find it applied sometimes to a streamer on the end of a lance, such as is used by the Arab sheik today. "Banner" occurs in the following significant Old Testament passages:

(1) in the singular, "Lift ye up a banner upon the high mountain" (Isaiah 13:2 the King James Version); "a banner to them that fear thee" (Psalm 60:4); and

(2) in the plur., "In the name of our God we will set up our banner" (Psalm 20:5); "terrible as an army with banner" (Songs 6:4).

1. Military Ensigns among the Hebrews:

The Hebrews, it would seem, like the Assyrians, the Egyptians, and other ancient nations, had military ensigns. As bearing upon this question, a very significant passage is that found in Numbers 2:2: "The children of Israel shall encamp every man by his own standard, with the ensigns of their fathers' houses." "Standard-bearer" in Isaiah 10:18 the King James Version, "They shall be as when a standard-bearer fainteth," is not a case in point, but is to be rendered as in the Revised Version, margin, "as when a si ck man pineth away."

In this noted passage a distinction seems intentionally made (another view is held by some) between "the ensigns of their fathers' houses" (literally, "signs"; compare Psalm 74:4, where the reference is thought by some today to be to the standards of Antiochus' army), and "the standards" of the four great divisions of the Hebrew tribes in the wilderness (compare the "banner" of Songs 2:4 and Songs 6:4, 10).

2. A Distinction with a Difference:

The relation of these to the "standard" of Numbers 21:8 f (Hebrew nec, the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American) "standard") is by no means clear. The word nec, here translated "standard," seems to have meant at first a pole set up on an eminence as a signal for mustering troops (compare "mast" Isaiah 30:17 the English Revised Version, margin). But it occurs frequently in the prophets both in this literal and original sense, and in the figurative or derived sense of a rallying point for God's people (see Isaiah 5:26; Isaiah 11:10 Jeremiah 4:21 and elsewhere). Here the rendering in English Versions of the Bible alternates between "ensign" and "banner" (see HDB, 1-vol, article "Banner").

George B. Eager

1714. degel -- a standard, banner
... 1713b, 1714. degel. 1715 . a standard, banner. Transliteration: degel Phonetic
Spelling: (deh'-gel) Short Definition: standard. ... banner, standard. ...
/hebrew/1714.htm - 6k

1713b. dagal -- to carry or set up a standard or banner
... 1713a, 1713b. dagal. 1714 . to carry or set up a standard or banner.
Transliteration: dagal Short Definition: banners. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/1713b.htm - 5k

5251. nes -- a standard, ensign, signal, sign
... Word Origin from nasas Definition a standard, ensign, signal, sign NASB Word Usage
banner (2), distinguishing mark (1), sail (1), signal (4), standard (12 ...
/hebrew/5251.htm - 6k

3071. Yhvh Nissi -- Jehovah-nissi
... From Yhovah and nec with the prononimal suffix; Jehovah (is) my banner;
Jehovah-Nissi, a symbolical name of an altar in the Desert -- Jehovah-nissi. ...
/hebrew/3071.htm - 6k

Beneath his Banner
... HYMNS BENEATH HIS BANNER. "Thine are we, David, and on thy side, thou son
of Jesse.""1 Chronicles 12:18. Mechthild of Hellfde, 1277. ...
/.../bevan/hymns of ter steegen and others second series/beneath his banner.htm

Fling Out the Banner! Let it Float
... V. THE CHURCH Missions 482. Fling out the banner! let it float. LM ... John Baptiste
Calkin, 1872. George W. Doane, 1848. Fling out the banner! let it float. ...
/.../missions 482 fling out the.htm

Jehovah-Nissi, the Lord My Banner. Ex 17:15
... EXODUS Hymn 17 JEHOVAH-NISSI, The Lord my banner. Ex 17:15. William Cowper
6,6,6,6,8,8. JEHOVAH-NISSI, The Lord my banner. Ex 17:15. By whom was David taught,. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/olney hymns/hymn 17 jehovah-nissi the lord.htm

Brightly Gleams Our Banner
... PROCESSIONALS Processionals 529. Brightly gleams our banner. 6.5., 12 lines
[2078]Sion: ... Thomas J. Potter, 1860. Brightly gleams our banner,. Pointing to the ...
/.../processionals 529 brightly gleams our.htm

Missionary Chant. LM
... 452 Missionary Chant. LM. The Gospel Banner. (1027) Fling out the banner!
let it float Skyward and seaward, high and wide, The sun ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/lorenz/the otterbein hymnal/452 missionary chant l m.htm

Jehovah Nissi
... THE BOOK OF EXODUS JEHOVAH NISSI. 'And Moses built an altar, and called the name
of it Jehovah Nissi [that is, the Lord is my Banner].' "Exodus 17:15. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/jehovah nissi.htm

Condemned to be Shot.
... And so God says, "Come under my banner, come under the banner of love, come under
the banner of heaven." God will take care of all that will come under His ...
/.../moody/moodys anecdotes and illustrations/condemned to be shot.htm

Index of Tunes.
... 375. I'M GLAD I'M IN THIS ARMY, 299 IMMANUEL'S BANNER, 188 INDEPENDENCE, 332
INNSBRUCK, 91 IT IS WELL, 440 (See Index of Hymns). JAZER ...
/.../brown/the story of the hymns and tunes/index of tunes.htm

Entire Sanctification a Necessity.
... multitudes, and give them the desire of their hearts by saving them to the uttermost,
and may their numbers be vastly increased, so that the banner of Christ's ...
/.../clark/the theology of holiness/chapter i entire sanctification a.htm

Illustrations
... 1. Portrait of J. Hudson Taylor Frontispiece 2. The "Lammermuir" party Facing "Contents"
PAGE 3. Honorary banner presented to a missionary 1 4. A heavy road in ...
//christianbookshelf.org/taylor/a retrospect/illustrations.htm

Banner (20 Occurrences)
... (1.) The flag or banner of the larger kind, serving for three tribes marching together. ...
God's setting up or giving a banner (Psalm 20:5; 60:4; Cant. ...
/b/banner.htm - 18k

Ensign (21 Occurrences)
... In Cant. 2:4 it is rendered "banner." We have no definite information as to the
nature of these military standards. (see BANNER.). Noah Webster's Dictionary. ...
/e/ensign.htm - 15k

Jehovahnissi (1 Occurrence)
... Jehovah my banner, the title given by Moses to the altar which he erected on the
hill on the top of which he stood with uplifted hands while Israel prevailed ...
/j/jehovahnissi.htm - 7k

Jehovah-nissi (1 Occurrence)
... Jehovah my banner, the title given by Moses to the altar which he erected on the
hill on the top of which he stood with uplifted hands while Israel prevailed ...
/j/jehovah-nissi.htm - 7k

Standard (42 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) A flag; colors; a banner; especially, a national or other ensign. ... 6.
(n.) The upper petal or banner of a papilionaceous corolla. ...
/s/standard.htm - 21k

Beacon (3 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 30:17). In Isaiah 33:23 and Ezek. 27:5, the same word is rendered
"mast." (see Banner.). Noah Webster's Dictionary. 1. (n.) A ...
/b/beacon.htm - 8k

Unfurled (1 Occurrence)
... Unfurled (1 Occurrence). Psalms 60:4 You have given a banner to those who fear you,
that it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah. (See NIV). ...
/u/unfurled.htm - 6k

Outcasts (13 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 11:12 He will set up a banner for the nations, and will assemble the outcasts
of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four ...
/o/outcasts.htm - 10k

Whistle (3 Occurrences)
... Whistle (3 Occurrences). Isaiah 5:26 He will lift up a banner to the nations from
far, and he will whistle for them from the end of the earth. ...
/w/whistle.htm - 9k

Flag (30 Occurrences)
... to indicate nationality, party, etc., or to give or ask information; -- commonly
attached to a staff to be waved by the wind; a standard; a banner; an ensign ...
/f/flag.htm - 18k

What does it mean that the Lord is my banner? | GotQuestions.org

What is the meaning of Jehovah-Nissi? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Jesse in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Banner: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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